Bøger af Courtney Ellis

Enjoy an engaging, thoughtful, and practical journey packed with humor, compassion, and scripture! Learn to be fully present and "all in," right where you are and reap the benefits that come with it!Present is an invitation to a deeper, richer, and quieter life with God. So often we sleepwalk through our days, but there is a deep biblical precedent and tremendous gift in practicing awareness right where we are. Present will help you discover: Key reasons you might experience transienceHow to press in where you're planted when called to thatHow to cope and thrive in seasons of pruning and frustrationHow to know when it's time to move onAnd much more!New jobs, new schools, new churches, and new cities. New colleagues and friends that come and go. Life is constantly moving and it's common to feel uprooted. Your calendar is full, and life is frenetic, but it still feels like something big is missing. You long for a deeper connection with God and those around you, but you're not sure how to get there. Whether you're prone to efficiently flit from one engagement to the next like a hummingbird, or you're more like a majestic Sequoia with the longing to thrive where your roots are, Present is here to help you form more meaningful connections.In a world marked by transience, envy, and rootlessness, committing to staying put is a radical, unusual act. Hungry for rootedness, Courtney Ellis and her family decided to truly commit to a place and a people God had given them for a season, to grow some deep roots and discover what it would mean to be "all in." Through winsome storytelling, Courtney demonstrates that there is tremendous growth when we stop holding a community at arms' length and open ourselves to the blessing of stability, the grace of limits, and the joy of presence. This book is divided into three major sections, with chapters devoted to each of the gifts that come with our increased attention to being all in―fully present, right where we are.Key Features of Present Relatable: Whether you're starting a new chapter of your life or firmly planted (or somewhere in between), Present will meet you where you are. Packed with thoughtful insights and wit, Courtney condenses solid biblical truths into everyday gems that are hidden all around you.Practical: Rather than just reading, Courtney invites you to dive deeper with thoughtful reflection questions and simple practices to apply these key principles to your own life. Change begins from the inside out and you can start being present now!Scripturally Guided: Enjoy having biblically based guidance on how to connect with others, grow where you're planted, know when God is calling you to transition, and more!Join Courtney Ellis for a thoughtful, funny, and realistic exploration of stability, limit, and presence as means of grace. Journey deeper into the heart of God that calls us to cultivate community―being present to what God has placed before us―and discovering the gifts of the present. Explore the ways borders and boundaries in our lives are for our good. When we are able to say, "This is my place, and these are my people," and then, like Ruth, really commit, beautiful things can happen. Present is perfect for: Individual and group studyBook clubsDiscipleshipBible studiesPastorsChurch librariesGiftsCounseling groupsParentsAnd more!

"Look at the birds"Through the painful days of the pandemic stuck in her home, Courtney Ellis found herself looking down in despair. Soon after, her beloved grandfather died unexpectedly.It was around this same time that Ellis took up watching birds. "Took up" might not be exactly right--as she puts it, "the switch flipped," and she's been borderline obsessed with birds ever since.Looking Up is a meditation on birding as a practice of hope. Weaving together stories from her own life, including the death of her grandfather, with reflections on birds of many kinds, Ellis invites us to open our eyes to the goodness of God both in the natural world and in our own lives. By "looking up" to the birds, Ellis found the beauty and wonder of these creatures calling her out of her darkness into the light and hope of God's promises.

How can we sift through the busyness, the mess, and the stress to uncover the abundant life God offers? Uncluttered is not a formula about what "stuff" you need to give up. It's about slowing down long enough for God to remind you of his truth and what it means to be his child. Through heartwarming, relatable, and hilarious stories, Courtney Ellis shares her journey from a life of stress, stuff, and exhaustion to one of peace, space, and fulfillment.You'll learn practical tips for paring down your possessions, simplifying your schedule, and practicing the ancient art of Sabbath (even if you are a parent!)Uncluttered covers 12 relevant Christian lifestyle topics such as: Applying Spiritual DisciplinesSabbath: Receiving the Gift of RestWorship: The Ultimate Uncluttered ActPrayer: Holy WhispersHospitality: Hot Dogs, Strangers, and You (and more!)Practical Lifestyle TipsThe Secret of Simplicity: God FirstStuff: More Is Not Always BetterTechnology: How to 'Turn Off'Uncluttered Kids: Simple, Soulful Parenting (and more!)Uncluttered ushers you towards a lifestyle of holiness and joy in the Lord. Author Courtney Ellis' sharp wit, clever humor, and profound insights will not only take you on an exciting journey through her walk with the Lord but will also lead you to uniquely experience yours. Find out what happens when you simply put God first.

With the honesty of a close friend, the hilarity of a late-night comic, and the humility of a mom up to her eyeballs in diapers and dishes, Courtney Ellis invites us on a journey to draw closer God amid the joyful, mundane, exhausting days of young parenthood. Probing ancient Christian practices for renewal, Almost Holy Mama chronicles one mom's quest to discover an answer to her most pressing question: Can God use the challenges of parenthood to grow your character?You long to spend time with God and catch your spiritual breath, but you find yourself honestly wondering--how and when? Ellis gets it. It's hard to carve out space for a "quiet moment" with God, let alone a "quiet time!" Instead of adding more tasks to your plate, Almost Holy Mama will help you integrate your spiritual practices into your daily life. From studying Scripture in the shower to listening in prayer at the foot of Laundry Mountain, Ellis finds that meeting God in sacred disciplines can breathe new life into one of life's most joy-filled and trying seasons.Perfect for parents, gifts for expecting parents, single mother/father groups, foster parents and guardians, pastors, counselors, and more!